On 8 January 2020, royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their intention to step back as Senior Royals and work towards becoming financially independent from the Royal Family. The pair have said that they plan to balance their time between the UK and North America, keeping their royal home, Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor. As the couple already have their UK housing covered, we’ve found some potential contenders for their future North American home. Let's take a look...

To get a flavour of what they might be looking for in a new home, let's take a look at one they've already stayed in. Harry and Meghan enjoyed the beauty of Vancouver Island in this $14.1 million CAD (£10.8m) holiday home over the Christmas vacation. The impressive waterfront mansion in North Saanich, owned by a mystery multi-millionaire, is located in one of the most picturesque parts of the island.

The French country-inspired estate comprises eight opulent bedrooms, with access to two beautiful beaches offering stunning views across the peninsula. The main house sprawls across 11,416 square feet and includes five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, a smaller 2,349-square-foot guest house accommodates the other three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

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Step inside the main house and you’ll see a spacious two-storey open living area, formal dining room, wood-panelled office with a cosy fireplace and a chic chef’s kitchen with its own pizza oven. The main property also includes a games room with a wet bar, a wine tasting room and a media room.

The four-acre luxury gated property also boasts its own conservatory, stunning summer house and several acres of gorgeous gardens, so we can see why the couple chose this as their home for the holidays. To top it off, the exclusive property overlooks the tranquil water below, making it the perfect scenic escape from the pair's busy lives in England.

Dubbed a “surfer’s paradise”, this waterfront property in the small district of Tofino on Vancouver Island may be the perfect place for Harry and Meghan to set up home. The stunning house can be found right on Chesterman Beach and is just a short walk from a lush forest, so finding peace and tranquillity certainly wouldn’t be an issue for the family here. The 1.2-acre estate is currently up for sale via Sotheby’s International Realty for $14 million CAD ($10.7m/£8.2m).

The skillfully crafted main house features chic Italian tiles and white oak flooring as well as gorgeous recycled barn wood ceilings that really give the house character. The home has four spacious ensuite bedrooms, perfect for when the family has guests. The open-plan living areas and private sundecks on each floor benefit from stunning views of the beach below.

The property also has its own luxury two-bedroom guest house and a single cottage with a full kitchen, which would be ideal to accommodate a live-in nanny for Archie. Another fun feature that's sure to go down well with the royal baby is the whimsical children’s treehouse, offering plenty of room for Archie to play when he's older. Elsewhere, a well-lit wooden boardwalk leads to the pretty woodland nearby, perfect for Meghan and Harry to enjoy a romantic country walk.

Perfectly equipped to enjoy Tofino’s natural surroundings, the main house includes an outdoor surf shower and a secure outdoor storage locker ideal for bikes and boards. If the family fancy a day at the beach, the large mudroom, ensuite shower and laundry room are great for settling down after a fun day out. Come the evening, the outdoor hot tub is the perfect place to relax and unwind. 

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Combining luxury finishes with a secluded location, this stunning oceanfront property could be the perfect choice for the family. The gorgeous house can be found on the north shores of the Saanich Peninsula, in one of Vancouver Island's most exclusive neighbourhoods so privacy wouldn’t be an issue. The impressive 5,800-square-foot estate is currently on sale via Sotheby’s International Realty for $7.9 million CAD ($6 million/£4.6 million).

As you pass through the front gates, the pristine property is framed by a dramatic ocean backdrop – Meghan and Harry may fall for the house before even stepping inside. As you enter, vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors offer a wow-factor welcome, with plenty of natural light bathing the interior. Complete with swathes of windows, the front hallway gives residents stunning views of the breathtaking scenery surrounding the property.

The main house features four ensuite bedrooms, with a luxury steam shower completing the master bedroom which also boasts its own stone patio overlooking the waterfront, giving the couple their own peaceful private sanctuary. Meanwhile in the kitchen, modern quartz countertops and Miele appliances impart elegance; Meghan and Harry would certainly enjoy cooking up a storm here.

The unique property also includes a modest one-bedroom guest house with a full kitchen and bathroom, perfect for visitors. Wooden steps from the rear of the home offer easy access to the peaceful waters below or the family can soak up the sun lounging on the outdoor terrace. A built-in media system in the main house and a humidity and temperature-controlled wine room round off the extravagant amenities on offer.

Interested? Take a look inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's multigenerational palace

The couple already had a taste of living in Canada when they stayed in Meghan’s former townhouse in the upmarket Toronto suburb of Seaton Village. Not quite a royal palace, the sleek property sold for $2 million CAD ($1.6 million/£1.2 million) around the same time Meghan became engaged to Prince Harry.

Meghan spent around nine months a year living in the property for seven years whilst working on the popular Netflix show Suits, which was filmed in the area. A minimalist theme runs throughout the home, with the modern, spacious kitchen featuring sleek white cabinets, open shelving and stainless-steel appliances.

Before deleting her Instagram account prior to officially becoming a royal, Meghan posted glimpses into her home life, capturing the property's sleek and stylish decor. The two-storey home features an open-plan layout, including three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a top-of-the-range kitchen and swish cinema room.

The detached property also comes with a modest landscaped garden, including a wooden deck complete with seating and a BBQ, perfect for outdoor summer entertaining. The home also has a detached two-car garage offering even more space.

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This gorgeously grand home would be the perfect peaceful escape for Meghan, Harry and Archie. Built in 1857, it's located just minutes from Downtown Toronto and includes a large, secluded backyard surrounded by trees – ideal for keeping out prying eyes.

The 12,000-square-foot property is spacious yet stylish, with sweeping verandas at both the front and rear, giving the home a touch of Southern charm. The grand oak wood-panelled library would make the perfect cosy workspace for Harry or Meghan as they launch their life away from the royal family. 

The house boasts a generous four bedrooms and nine bathrooms, offering plenty of room for the family and any extra guests. The games complex in the basement would certainly keep the family entertained, offering a full spa, ball hockey court, work-out room and elegant wine cellar.

The expansive property also features a secluded coach house, complete with vaulted ceilings and an ensuite bedroom, which is accessed via a private tunnel that leads from the back of the main house. This stunning property is currently on sale via Sotheby’s International Realty for $19.8 million CAD ($15m/£11.62m).

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For something a little more modest, how about this trendy Toronto townhouse? Located in the affluent neighbourhood of Yorkville, this stylish property ticks all the boxes when it comes to meeting Harry and Meghan’s desire for a quiet family home. If it takes their fancy, it's currently on the market for $4.2 million CAD ($3.2m/£2.5m).

Inside, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom property features a combined kitchen, dining room and living area spread over a spacious open-plan ground floor. The light and airy kitchen is equipped with professional-grade appliances and a stylish breakfast bar, perfect for when the royal pair entertain friends and family.

On the second floor, the gorgeous master suite includes roomy his-and-hers closets as well as a stunning spa-inspired ensuite bathroom. A second slightly smaller bedroom is located on the same floor, which could be turned into a space for little Archie.

Located on the third floor, the final ensuite bedroom benefits from stunning views of the Toronto skyline. Outside, the home features a rear deck with easy access to a lovely manicured garden; a peaceful yet surprisingly spacious green oasis in the heart of the city. A roomy garage and large extra living room on the lower level offer even more space for the family to enjoy.

But let's not forget that Meghan is an LA girl at heart and her mother, Doria Ragland, still lives there in the house she inherited from Meghan's grandfather in 2011. The house is situated in the View Park−Windsor Hills neighbourhood, which is not too far from LAX airport, but we think Meghan and Harry might need something a little more private...

As the subject of global press interest, there's nothing so reassuring as buying a property from another celebrity so we think that this amazing 1930s home could be a perfect fit. It was once owned by Whoopi Goldberg and is located in the ultra-exclusive Pacific Palisades area of LA. On the market for $9.5 million (£7.3m), it's a private, gated estate with impeccable Hollywood pedigree.

The house has had its fair share of well-known occupants over the years, including author Vicki Baum and English actor David Niven. Inside, the bright and clean interior will appeal to Meghan's modern taste in interior design while the vintage touches make it a suitable choice for 'old money' royalty.

Blessed with six bedrooms and six bathrooms, it's got room for a growing family. Original features like these black and white checkered floor tiles and marble columns give the place plenty of character.

Spread over 7,000-square-feet, the rambling house has room for the pair's VIP friends to come stay, including a separate guest house for extra privacy. And, of course, there's a fabulous swimming pool for cooling off where baby Archie can learn to swim. A perfect respite from the British weather!

Whether Harry and Meghan decide to return to live in much-loved Toronto, go for the bright lights of LA or seek the tranquillity and beauty of Vancouver Island, we can't wait to see their new family home in North America!

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